Approximately 1 in 4,000 babies in Southeast Asia are born with 1 or two missing/barely developed ears in a congenital condition called microtia. This condition is often associated with atresia which is a non-development of the ear canal. The middle and inner ears are usually present, but the sound cannot reach those structures and so the child cannot hear in the affected side. Thus, patients with microtia and atresia suffer from both the stigma of deformity and the disability of deafness. If both sides are affected this is particularly disabling. In addition, the volume of motorbikes in Vietnam and the lack of full-face helmets leads to frequent ear avulsion injuries. These require reconstruction. Vietnam has been making significant strides in treating microtia. For instance, the British Foundation for International Reconstructive Surgery and Training (BFIRST) has been collaborating with local teams in Hanoi to develop advanced ear reconstruction techniques. These efforts have resulted in a strong ear reconstruction service that uses single-stage surgery and minimizes scarring. Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to improve hearing restoration for patients with microtia and atresia. Specialists are working on implementing surgical implant techniques to address congenital deafness.

Answer:   Microtia   usually does not affect child’s growth and their motor skills. Most children with microtia do have hearing loss in the affected ear because often there is   to transmit sound waves to the inner ear. This is called aural atresia. Children with microtia and atresia affecting one ear will have problems locating the direction of sound and have trouble hearing a conversation in noisy environments. The most common condition in which microtia is seen is Hemifacial Microsomia, in which  . The degree of hemifacial microsomia varies from barely perceptible to very noticeable. As children develop, some may not mind their microtia but most of the others often have guilt and inferiority complex.

Answer: The ear consists of three main areas: outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. The outer ear acts as the receiver for sound waves to travel through the outer ear canal and cause vibrations in the eardrum. The eardrum and the three small bones of the middle ear amplify the vibrations as they travel to the inner ear. There, the vibrations travel through the fluid in the cochlear structure in the inner ear (cochlea). Attached to nerve cells in the cochlea are thousands of tiny hairs that help convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain. The brain turns these signals into sound signals. Small ear defects (ear defects) are not only deformed outer ear rings, but also often come with no ear canal and no eardrum (Atresia) resulting in loss or loss of hearing (inability to hear sounds) in defective ear. After your baby is born or when you adopt a baby, your baby usually hasn't had a newborn hearing screening. Once your baby has not had newborn hearing screening, you need to take your baby to an ear, nose and throat doctor and an audiologist for a hearing test to find out how much hearing loss your baby has. Hearing loss is if both ears are hearing loss (hearing loss). With the help of your ENT doctor and audiologist, you will be informed of options that best help your baby. Before the coronary imaging surgery, the patient may be asked to have an audiometric test, with a CT scan to check the middle ear. Based on the examination results and the specific situation, the doctor may recommend the use of hearing aids or surgery to create an external ear canal to increase hearing and hearing for the baby. That is why Dr. Nguyen Hong Ha, expert on ear shaping, also works closely with leading ENT specialists and audiologists to not only reconstruct the ear for children early from 3 4 years old but also counseling on hearing function treatment so that the children can integrate best in life.

It is always important for you and family and friends to be there and offer positive support to your child in dealing with the reactions of others, and this also helps your child in dealing with his or her own inner thoughts and feelings about their difference. Rehearsing some responses with your child in a casual matter-of-fact way will help prepare them for the inevitable situations they will encounter at school or at play. For instance your child could say, “My   is called  but it doesn’t change how I play or anything. I’ll decide later if I want to let doctors try to change the shape, but for now its fine”. Microtia is just a small aspect of your wonderful child. Raise your child as you would any other without overdoing attention or focus on this one aspect. This will help them cope with microtia and avoid self-esteem and confidence issues so they can grow up and engage.